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Time of India
10 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
More time sought to clear 194 houses from lake in Avadi
Chennai: Tiruvallur district administration has sought more time from National Green Tribunal (NGT) to complete the eviction of 194 residential encroachments on Vilinjiyambakkam lake in Avadi, citing ongoing resettlement processes. In a detailed status report filed before Southern Zone bench, district collector M Prathap said while 79 encroachments — including 30 commercial structures and 49 houses — were already removed, full eviction is pending as authorities are working on rehabilitating remaining families either in TNUHDB tenements or through allocation of alternative land. The collector's report was filed in response to earlier NGT directions in Aug 2024 and March 2025, when the tribunal took stock of encroachments identified and notices issued to 350 individuals under the Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment Act, 2007. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The report detailed action taken across multiple survey numbers covering around 0.24 hectares of lake and inlet area, including the demolitions of tin-roofed and cement houses. This is the latest development in a case that dates back to 2021, when the NGT first intervened after receiving complaints about the steady shrinkage of the 100-acre lake, once a key groundwater source for Avadi and surrounding areas. The lake, located along the Chennai–Tiruvallur High Road, saw widespread encroachment and poor maintenance by the PWD. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo A joint committee formed by the tribunal confirmed sewage discharge into the surplus channel from adjacent residential colonies. Despite directions issued as early as Feb 2022 to fix illegal sewage discharge from the encroachments, action was slow due to resistance from residents and delay by revenue officials in issuing Form III notices. With state elections approaching, little headway is likely in the coming months.
New Indian Express
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Tiruvallur launches road accident audit after 188 crashes, 49 deaths in February; safety lapses under review
CHENNAI: Tiruvallur, a rapidly developing logistics and residential corridor on the northwestern outskirts of Chennai, has initiated a comprehensive audit of both fatal and non-fatal road accidents. Task forces comprising officials from the transport, police, and revenue departments are conducting field investigations in high-incidence areas such as Red Hills, Poonamallee, and Tiruvallur town. Collector M Prathap has ordered the audit following 188 crashes, including 49 fatalities, that were reported in February alone. 'I have asked officials to analyse data in the last five years to determine whether road geometry or other factors are contributing to these accidents. If corrective measures are needed, we will implement them,' Prathap told TNIE. Tiruvallur's road network includes several state highways, major district roads, and three National Highways - NH-716, NH-16, and NH-48. Earlier this month, Avadi City Police Commissioner K Shankar narrowly escaped injury when a maxi truck rear-ended his official vehicle on the Grand Northern Trunk (GNT) Road near Sholavaram. Data reviewed by TNIE and corroborated by state officials have revealed several high-risk blackspots on NH-205. Danger zones have been identified between Arcotkuppam Junction and Canara Bank, from Arcotkuppam Bridge to Pudhur Bus Stand, and between Pudhur Junction and Narayanapuram Road. These stretches are now being subject to urgent interventions such as installation of speed-calming methods and improved lighting. However, safety concerns are not limited to these blackspots. Roads like the one from Mappedu to Sunguvarchatram lack basic infrastructure, including street lighting and warning signs; the Tiruvallur-Tiruttani corridor, which local police describe as a 'continuous danger zone' is set to receive safety upgrades; in Poonamallee, the Palivakkam signal on the Chennai-Bengaluru route has become an accident prone area due to damaged service roads and potholes. Meanwhile, persistent issues like the non-functional high-mast light at Thirumazhisai junction remain unresolved, pending a power connection from the state electricity board. At Red Hills Padiyanallur signal on the Chennai-Kolkata highway, heavy vehicles continue to make U-turns due to the lack of a cloverleaf interchange on the Outer Ring Road, resulting in frequent multi-vehicle collisions. Experts are now calling for a shift from reactive to predictive, data-driven safety strategies. P S Reashma, Mobility and Road Safety Specialist at Street Matrix, emphasised the importance of systematic crash investigations and identifying grey spots. In the long-term, NHAI has announced the construction of an access-controlled, four-lane highway for the region, scheduled for completion by December 2026.
